On Friday June 15, Little Miss Higgins a blues singer/guitarist now living in Canada’s prairie town of Nokomis Saskatchewan, took the stage at Calgary’s Ironwood Stage and Grill. She was joined by electric guitarist Foy Taylor and for several songs by mandolin player Tim Williams who produced her CD Junction City.

More impressive than Little Miss Higgins’ vocals was the splendid guitar riffs displayed by Higgins and Taylor and the superb musicianship of Williams. On the second song of her first set, the lamenting ballad, “Gone For Good,” she used a finger slide during the instrumental bridge and performed a fine duet with Taylor. More impressive was the torrid pace set by both guitarists during the quick tempo “The Pig Meets Strut.” The Independence Kansas native Higgins used a thumb pick while Foy’s fingers became a blur as he went with just fingers against steel.

Higgins’ concert also featured two songs by blues legend Memphis Minnie, “You Ain’t Done Nothing To Me” and “She Won’t Give You None.” Foy was in the spotlight on the later tune and took over the lead vocals and guitar. His vocals while not as polished as his partner’s was more appealing because it was inflected with more emotion and appeared more sincere. Most of Foy’s finger work was spent between the third and seventh frets of his guitar.

Other songs included tributes to pieces of Canadiana with “The Ferry Boat Blues” serving up reminders of the year Higgins spent on Canada’s west coast Vancouver Island. Another tune “The Dirty Old Tractor Song” featured Higgins switching to an electric acoustic (I know its an oxymoron). The song was inspired by a farmer acquaintance and yes, a dirty old tractor. The “Velvet Barley Bed” was inspired by the barley crops that grow in Saskatchewan where Higgins now resides.

Photo Credit: Joe Montague ©

June 14, 2007

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